Castrapo (aportmanteau ofcastelán andtrapo, meaningrag[1]) is a term used in the region ofGalicia to refer to a local variety of theCastilian language that uses a lot of code-switching, vocabulary, syntax and expressions directly from theGalician language although they do not exist or have equivalents inStandard Castilian. This way of speaking is mainly prevalent in the densely populated urban areas of Galicia and is sometimes stereotyped as "the wayGalician politicians speak"[citation needed].
The phenomenon of Castrapo traces back its origins to the imposition of theCastilian language in Galicia and the attemptedCastilianization of the region after it was absorbed by theKingdom of Castile (also known as theDoma y castración del Reino de Galicia; "Domination and castration of theKingdom of Galicia" byGalicianist authors such asCastelao). TheGalician language lost its officiality during the era known as theSeculos Escuros (Dark Centuries), and it was no longer studied at schools, used by religious organizations or any administrative entity. It became a de-facto spoken language by theGalician people and its use was reduced to family situations and private life although it has always stayed the most commonly-spoken language inGalicia.
SomeGalicianist intellectuals likeManuel María viewed Castrapo as a threat to theGalician language byCastilianization.
The standardGalician dictionary published by theRoyal Galician Academy defines it as a "variation of the Castilian language, distinguished by the abundance of words and expressions taken from Galician language".[2]
Some Galicianreintegrationist groups, which advocate for the unity ofGalician-Portuguese as a modern single language, may also use the wordCastrapo to refer disapprovingly to the current standard form of Galician that is regulated by theRoyal Galician Academy, which they consider to be tooinfluenced by Castilian and artificially distanced from modern Portuguese.
The phraseClose the window would bePecha a ventana. InStandard Castilian, it would beCierra la ventana; in Galician, it would bePecha a fiestra/ventá/xanela; and inPortuguese, it would beFecha a janela.
Final unstressed/e/ and/o/ are frequently raised to[i] and[u] in the Castilian that is spoken in rural Galicia.[3]
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